England put India to the sword but Root calls on his men to raise game

ENGLAND completed a crushing innings and 159-run victory over India at Lord’s to take a 2-0 series lead.

James Anderson took 4-23 to finish with nine wickets in the match and Stuart Broad shone with 4-44 as India were bowled out for 130.

The hosts had declared on 396-7, with Chris Woakes finishing on 137 not out, before Anderson reduced India to 17-2.

Rain delayed play twice but India lost wickets regularly and Woakes took the final scalp to secure an emphatic win.

Captain Joe Root wants England to keep pursuing the “complete game” despite the rout.

The hosts sealed their mammoth win on the fourth evening, but, with the entire first day lost to rain, their success over the world’s number one side was as brisk as it was emphatic.

India showed no signs of getting to grips with the home attack’s masterful swing attack after defeat at Edgbaston and failed to bat for 50 overs in either of their innings.

Root was delighted with what he saw, but wants to see even more improvements at Trent Bridge when the series will be on the line.

“It was a fantastic week, from the very first ball really,” he said.

“The bowling unit was exceptional. We probably had the bowling conditions throughout but you’ve still go to ask the right questions of the batsmen and we did that once again.

“We’ve got another day’s rest now to recover and get our head Star man: Chris Woakes won high praise from his captain

around what we’ve done well this week.

“But we’ve not played the complete game yet, that’s something you’re always chasing as a side. Hopefully that is somewhere in the next three games to come.”

Root offered a special word for man-of-the-match Woakes. Recalled in the absence of Ben Stokes he bowled superbly and struck a century which bestowed on him the distinction of being on both the batting and bowling honours boards at Lord’s.

Root said: “I’m really pleased for Woakesy, on a number of occasions he’s shown how talented he is with the bat. That’s down to hard work and I’m really chuffed to bits for him.

“Chris has been a big part of the squad for a long time and it’s great to see him get his reward.”

The Warwickshire man added: “Scoring 100 and getting on the board at Lord’s is something that will stay with me forever.

“I wish I’d soaked it up a bit more, it kind of went by in a flash. It was an amazing game.”